Tuesday 22 January 2013

AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY



For all you geeky nerds like me yes I know I have stolen the title but I just couldn't help myself and besides it's totally relevant. So the other day I got to understand that you shouldn't take on more than you can handle, in all honesty I don’t know why I got myself in that situation to begin with. It was a beautiful Wednesday morning and everything seemed right with the world, so I thought to myself why not take the Mercedes dear old dad wants to sell the old thing, stick shift car by the way(very important point). So you see the problem is as much as I know how to drive a stick shift, this one was different, it didn't quite respond the way you normally expect. You see, most of us are used to good old Toyota with its easy to understand nature and can do attitude. I get into the car, feels a bit cramped in but hey what's a little discomfort at the expense of luxury right. I pull out of the drive way, luckily there was no oncoming traffic. So am stepping on the accelerator fully but the way that car is moving…. dismal I mean when you put your foot to the floor you expect some results. I felt like I was in a tuk tuk, of course to the guys outside it must have looked like I was cruising Lol. I make it to the first turn and things seem to be going my way, am able to get as far as Yaya before the damn thing goes off, right in the middle of a corner might I add. Cold sweat washes over me and am thinking am totally screwed, quickly I start the car up again and continue with my predicament. At this point am thinking to myself what the hell was I thinking cause this is turning out to be a very grim day , very very grim. Eventually the lone ranger aka me makes it to my final destination (school)and am thinking "phew, at least".
A couple of pals think themselves "Baba Yao" and try driving the beast, yes I resigned to calling it that after all the trouble it had given me and presto, I discover that I am quite the driver even though am suffering. I watch as it goes off over and over again. Can't help but laugh, the guys look like inexperienced amateurs trying to get reverse to engage as the car shakes helplessly. One of them takes it upon himself to try till it moves.
" Eeeh dude kwani its how with this car?"
"Si you set it into gear, it's not that hard."
We all burst  out laughing as the car went into an epileptic fit, they finally gave up on it and for a little while I forgot about the beast then home time came. Before I continue let me just mention that never again, ever. So we start off nicely then we get to Mbagathi way, see the problem with this road is that it's all up hill and well given my out of touch position with this car, balancing was going to be a bitch. So I struggle for a better part of it then things get really interesting, at first I smell the distinctive odour of burning clutch. I think to myself am totally screwed but then comes the smoke, who ever said that things can't get worse?  I have no idea what the hell is going on and am thinking "am totally done for." I hear that voice in the back of my head saying I should have just left the car in the first place, I have to think fast or I'll really be screwed. I remember a pal of mine lives in Ngumo so pit stop it is, and there I remain for as long as traffic exists.  Actually learnt that there are cameras that monitor traffic albeit the angles are horrible, I mean why put a camera where you are sure traffic is almost always moving, that’s just idiotic. So finally when darkness falls and most people have made their way to their houses I creep out of Ngumo and slowly start to make my way home. My journey was marred by angry drivers who didn’t seem to appreciate my go slow attitude but as luck would have it the traffic was moving and after what seemed like a very long day I finally got home and gently vowed " Never Again."

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